21st Commemoration of STF war heroes :

 'You give us courage, fortitude to safeguard country's unity and territorial integrity'
 

by Sarath Malalasekera

The twenty-first Commemoration of the War Heroes of the Special Task Force (STF) was held in Shri Maha Bodhiya, Anuradhapura, Sri Dalada Maligawa, Kandy, Werahena Temple, Matara and STF Training Wing, Katukurunda under the guidance of STF commandant Nimal Lewke.

The STF has started the practice of honouring fallen warriors who have perished for the cause of their homeland. STF equally honours the parents of these fighters annually.

The STF has been headed by seven eminent Commandants since its inception. They are Senior DIG Bodhi Liayange, Senior DIG Zerney Wijesuriya, Senior DIG Lionel Karunasena, Senior DIG Dharmasiri Weerakoon, DIG Nimal Gunatilleke.

DIG Nimal Lewke who joined the Police Force in 1984 as an Inspector, is marshalling this elite outfit as the seventh Commandant.

The STF has been maintaining close relationship with the parents and relatives of fallen heros annually by sending gift packs to all the families during Sinhala and Tamil New Year and scholarships are awarded for the education of their children. "These services will be rendered continuously as we treasure your contribution, treating you as extra-ordinary human beings," DIG Nimal Lewke said.

"Our highest respects are paid to you for your supreme sacrifice". According to this concept of present STF Commandant, the STF keeps on close touch with the families of the STF war heroes. "Our fervent wish is to see the end of this conflict and ensure a conducive environment to live in Peace and harmony," Lewke stressed.

"Your invaluable sacrifices for unity and territorial integrity of our land in the name of the next generation will be remembered and cherished forever. The STF war heroes who have attained the martyrdom are venerated today by the STF members. The names of these noblemen will be written in the Lankan history in golden letters."

Let your blood mixed with the fertile soil of Degamadulla to bloom thousands of flowers to fragrance our motherland.

Your dream of one and peaceful Sri Lanka will become a reality as your patriotic deeds have given us courage and fortitude to march towards the goal, you fought for. Although you have departed from us, your loved ones you will forever remain in our hearts," the STF Commandant added.

"Your heroic deeds bring back the memories and the heroism of kings and warriors repeatedly mentioned in the Lankan History in the likes of Kings Pandukabaya, Parakkramabahu, Dutugemunu, Vijayabahu, Walagamba, Dathusena and warriors such as Keppitipola Disawa, Gongalegoda Banda and Veera Puranappu.

Your heroism reminds us of several battles won during the past. Portuguese vanquished in Mulleriyawa, the resistance to the British in Gannoruwa, similarly the STF withstood the LTTE onslaughts in Thamankaduwa and Digamadulla in the Eastern region.

The STF war heroes drew out the LTTE engaging in several fierce confrontations in areas like Pudikudirippu, Ambalanthurai, Thikkodai, Kandikuddichiaru and Pullumallai repeating the history." The STF's success story within a short period of existence is made up of those sacrifices setting a shining example to others.

They have given their future and have departed from their loved ones so that others could have a better tomorrow, the STF Commandant said at the 21st Commemoration day. "They shall not grow old, As we that are left to grow old, Age shall not weary them, Nor the years condemn, At the going down of the sun, And in the morning, We will remember You."

The beginning of 1980s saw the emergence of new trends and dimensions of subversive terror in the northern part of Sri Lanka, where the ugly terrorism started gradually raising its head.

Tamil National Leadership, bureaucrats were targeted at whilst inflicting a fear psychosis in the mindset of the public of North. Next victim was the police ensuring the law and order in the Northern peninsular. Assassinations, robberies, disruptive activities on the Government infrastructure, developed into separatism by violent means.

The police being the premier law enforcing mechanism, was first to face the onslaught of terror unleashed to achieve their goal. There were attacks on police personnel whilst on duty and later on the police station completely disrupting the normalcy in the North.

The new security challenges posed by the advent of separatist terrorism in the North heightened the need of a special paramilitary arm within the police service, prompted by the killing of policemen and isolated police station becoming targets.

Immediate formation of a paramilitary arm, capable of meeting the threat, was set up under the name of Special paramilitary Striking Force (SSF). This outfit was deployed in the North exclusively to counter the emerging threat.

The lack of will, manpower and the material support made the SSF fragile and denied its infrastructure for prolonged sustenance.

Under this scenario, the Special Task Force, was formed in March 01, 1983, headed by Superintendent of Police, Bodhi Liyanage who is a senior Deputy Inspector General today. After the initial training at Katunkurunda Police College the first intake were inducted to the army combat training school Ampara, for counter revolutionary warfare.

The Defence Ministry which had been closely monitoring the progress decided to streamline this unit by providing specialised training and equipment required to function more effectively. Ravi Jayewardene security advisor to the then president, J. R. Jayewardene, took an active interest in realising its objectives and as a result the services of Special Air Service (SAS), who were involved in training special forces in Sultanate of Oman, were obtained to make the STF a professional outfit.

The SAS experts trained the STF troops at Katukurunda wing of the Police College, after making the training school into a sophisticated training complex. Later, the STF experts took over from the SAS in 1988. Today the STF has a fully-fledged training wing, regarded as one of the best in South East Asia. the late DIG Upali Sahabandu dedicated and committed himself to elevate this training school into the present status.

Initially the STF was deployed in Jaffna peninsular to assist the police. It is with great respect we commemorate the first martyrs of the STF, who laid down their lives in combat to preserve the unity and integrity of the motherland.

On 1st of September 1984, Police Constables 2539 Chandrapala, 4100 Ekanayake, 3928 Nanayakkara and Police Constable Driver 13089 Sumanasekera were killed at Thikkum in Jaffna, being the victims of a land-mine explosion by the LTTE. Since 1st of September 1983 the STF commemorates its martyrs annually on 1st of September.

The Defence Ministry relocated the STF from North to East in 1984.

There was scepticism among some quarters for this move. The STF however, took up the challenge and relieved the SL Army who were moved for operations in the North. The STF made a rapid progress in the East in no time, establishing firm ground control and normalising civil administration after facing tough confrontations from the enemy.

When the operational functions were given over to the IPKF in 1987, the STF was totally dominating the ground in Batticoloa and Ampara districts.

By this time, the STF firmly established itself as a professional fighting unit, conversant well with irregular warfare.

The name of the STF became a safety valve for terror stricken citizens in the East. The STF troops were regarded as battle-hardened, fearless fighters with the capability of facing any form of internal threat.

The STF always believed in providing security to the public, in a holistic way, covering all ingredients of security, physical, economic, social and mental well-being. High degree of discipline maintained throughout made the character much more stronger enabling the STF to command respect from both public as well as the enemy.